Drink mixer



1,633,470 Jlm` 21 1927 c. M. BALL, JR

DRI NK MIXER Filed OCt. 9, 1926 a nwnl'oc ,l 5557.4 3

SH01 wav' Patented June 2l, 1927.

CHARLES M. BALL, JR., 0F DENVER, COLORADO.

DRINK MIXER.

Application nea october s, 192e. srm No. 140,482. 1 i

This invention relates to drink mixers of the type .employed at soda fountains and Athe like. and lhas for its principal object the provision of a mixer in which a single motor will operate a plurality of mixers.

Another objectof the invention is to provide an automatic clutching arrangement whereby any one of the number of mixers will be put in operation by the insertion of a cup of liquid to be mixed and will automatically cease operating when the cup is removed, without affecting the remaining mixers. f'

A further object of theiinvention is to so construct the clutching mechanism that it can be easily removed for renewal of the wearing surfaces.

A still further object is to arrange the machine so that an indefinite number of mixers may be attached.

Other obl'ects and advantages reside in the detail construction of the invention which is designed for simplicity, economy, and efliciency. These will become more apparent from the following description.

In the `following detailed description of the invention reference is had to the laccompanying drawing which forms a part hereof. Like numerals refer to like parts in all Views of the drawing and throughout the description.

In the drawing:

`Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my complete apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a detail view of a part of the driving mechanism with the housing cut away.

Fig. 3 is an end view of the driving mechanism with the housing removed.

Fig. 4 is a detail view illustrating the construction of the clutching mechanism.

The invention comprises a standard supporting a motor 1 1, controlled by a suitable switch 12, and a mixer frame 13. The shaft, 14, of the motor 11 extends outwardly vfrom both faces of the motor and carries miter gears 15, there being one miter gear for each mixer desired on the apparatus.

The outboard extremity of the motor shaft 14 at cach side of the motor may be supported in suitable bearings 16.- At each mixer a miter gear 15 meshes with a similar miter gear 17 which floats on a bearing 18 supported from the mixer frame 13. By this construction each of the gears "17 operates constantly when the motor 11 is in operation.

A mixing stem 19 extends upward through each of the. bearings18 and terminates in friction clutch face 20 at its upper extremity and in a suitable agitator 21 at its lower extremity. In the upper face of each gear 17 a clutch depression 22 is formed to receive the clutch face V20. The clutch face 20 is normally held out of engagement with the depression 22 by a compression spring 23 so as to allow the gear 17 to rotate without imparting motion to the mixing stem 19. The clutch face is brought into contact with the "depression 22 through the medium of a cup arm 24 which is pivoted at 25 to a.

bracket 26 supported from the mixer frame 13. The lower extremity ofthe cup arm 24 is formed to provide a seat 26 for engagin the lower anged edge vof a mixing cup 2g and a clip 35 is carried thereon-for engaging the upper edge of the cup.v

The action of the spring 23 normally maintains thecup arm 24 inthe solid line position of Fig. 3. When a cup 27 is placed in the seat 26 the weight of the cup forces the cup arm to the broken line position of Fig. 3, causing it to force the clutch face 20 into the depression 22 of the gear 17, thus placing the mixing stem 19 of that mixer in operation. The remaining mixer stems 19 on the machine, however, will remain at rest until a cup is placed on them. VV'hen the mixing operation has been completed and the cup is removed from its cup arm, the spring 23 will force theclutch face from the depression 22 allowing the agitator to come to rest. i l

The gears 17 rotate about a sleeve 28 which extends upwardly from the bearing 18 and surrounds the spring 23. The spring 23 is compressed between suitable friction washers 29 which rotate with the stem 19 and carry. the spring therewith when the mixer is in operation.

The upward movement of the mixing stem/I 100 19 is limited by a set collar 30 which is attached to the mixing stem 19 and contacts with the lower extremity of the bearing 18. The clutching face 20 1s preferably formed of a leather washer with suitable beveled edges which contact with the beveled sides of the depression 22. This washer is compressed between aange 31 carried by the mixing stem 19, and a clutch late 32 which is drawn toward the stem 19 hy means of a suitable clamp screw 33. In placing a cu on the cup arm the edge of the cup is passe l the invention.

Having thus described-the invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-

1. A drink mixer comprising a support; a

motor carried by said support; a motor shaft extending entirely through said motor and projecting from each side thereof; transmission elements carried by said motor shaft at each side of said motor; a phirality vof mixing stems arranged each side of said motor and adapted to be driven from said transmission elements; means for" independently connectin and disconnecting said mixing stems wit said transmission elements,` said means com rising a frictionface carried' by each of sai stems; and a cup support adapted to cause said friction face to engage said transmission element when a weight has been placed upon said cup support.

2. In a drink mixer a constantly driven gear; a bearing for said gear; a mixing stem terminating in an agitator adapted to extend through said bearing; a friction face carried by said mixing stem and adapted to engage said gear; a -spring .arranged to force said friction face from said gear; and a weight actuated arm adapted to force Said friction face into contact with said gear.

3.` In a drink mixer a constantly driven gear; a bearing for said gear; a mixing stem terminating in au agitator adapted to extend through said bearing; a friction face carried by said mixing stem and adapted to engage said gear; a spring arranged to force said friction face from said gear; a Weight actuated arm adapted to force said friction face into contact with said gear, said friction face comprising av flange on said stem; an annular surface of resilient material; a plate; anda screw threaded into said stem and adapted to compress said resilient material between said plate and said flange.

4. In a drink mixer a constantly driven gear; a bearing for said gear; a mixing stem terminating -in an agitator adapted to ex tend through said bearing; a friction face carried by said mixing stem and adapted to engage said gear; a spring arranged to force said friction face from said gear; a Weight actuated arm adapted to force said friction face into contact with said gear; and a rojection on said stem adapted to limitA the .movement of said friction face.

In testimony whereof, I aiiix my signa ture.

uCHARLES M. BALL, JR; 

